The search intensifies as the Oakland Police Department (OPD) appeals to the public for assistance in the hunt for a black Ford Mustang linked to a deadly New Year's Day hit-and-run. In efforts to locate the vehicle involved in the fatality of a young Stockton woman, Antoinette Matthews, aged 23, the OPD has released images to enlist community help. The tragic incident took place just before the clock struck 12:45 AM on the 4200 block of International Boulevard, and now, there's up to $10,000 on the table for information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrator, as per the Oakland Police Department.
On the night the incident occurred, initial findings from the scene suggested that the pedestrian was struck while on the sidewalk as a vehicle performing stunts, specifically "donuts", veered dangerously off the road. The driver, in haste, fled the scene, leaving behind an injured Matthews, who was later rushed to the hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries. While the pedestrian's identity was initially withheld, revelations have confirmed her to be Matthews, a resident of Stockton.
The OPD's Traffic Investigation Unit has taken charge of delving into the specifics of the matter, yet as of now, the involvement of alcohol or drugs has not been determined. To push the investigation forward and facilitate the identification and capture of the culprit, OPD, in conjunction with Crime Stoppers of Oakland, is calling on citizens to step forward with any potentially relevant details. Eyewitnesses or individuals harboring information about the incident or the whereabouts of the black Ford Mustang are urgently requested to contact the OPD Traffic Investigation Unit by calling (510) 777-8570.
